Summer time is the time of year when friends and family get together, enjoying the sun and where friends gather at summer events.
The Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership wants to help everyone stay safe, have a good time and be free from harm so here are a few important tips to ensure you do!
If you are out and about and the sun is shining and you want to top up your tan, don’t forget to cover up with sun screen and don’t forget to top up with fluids too so you don’t become dehydrated. If you happen to be around or near water always play it safe and avoid any risky behaviours.
It is always a good idea when you are on a night out or going to a festival to agree a meeting point in the event that your party gets split up so that you know where to look for your friends. Ways to keep safe if you are drinking, using drugs or even if you decide to stay sober with your friends is to look after each other. Make sure you all know where everyone is going. If someone feels they want to leave early, make sure they get into a taxi and ask them to ring you when they arrive home. Before you leave the house make sure you have enough money to get home.
Whilst we do not encourage or condone the use of illegal drugs, if someone is going to take any drugs it is safer to start with a small amount, such as a quarter or half tablet and wait at least an hour to gauge the effects before considering taking any more. In recent years, the purity of drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy has increased up to 10 times stronger than 10 years ago, therefore it is difficult for people to know the strength of the drug they plan to take, and indeed what is in it. If you do decide to take any substance and are visiting a large mainland festival, consider accessing the forensic testing sites to ensure the drug is safe and help to reduce your risk of serious harm.
If you do take too many drugs your judgement will be impaired. It is also safer to stick to the amount you have rather than buy more, so for safety reasons you know how much you have taken, and only take drugs in a safe environment.
Polydrug use is when an individual mixes drugs which can increase health and harm risks. Mixing cocaine with amphetamines or ecstasy can put a potentially lethal strain on your heart and it is best to avoid doing so, and using alcohol with these. Mixing different alcohol drinks and drugs can lead to a very bad reaction. If you prefer not to drink or take drugs, that’s good and it’s okay for you to say so and don’t be swayed by peer pressure. Your friends should understand and respect your decision.
If you notice that one of your friends or for that matter anyone who may be on their own and has become unwell through possibly having taken any alcohol or drugs, and you are concerned for them, it is important that you seek help right away and bring them to the attention of stewards or the safe space team. If someone falls unconscious it is vital that you put them in the recovery position (shown below).
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